Scott Morrison had said all necessary steps were taken to ensure Australian staff were safe.

AAP: Alan Porritt, file photo

Opposition immigration spokesman Richard Marles says the Federal Government must come clean about a security incident at the Manus Island processing centre.

Yesterday Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said there was an incident at the centre and that Australian staff were evacuated for their own safety onto HMAS Choules, which is stationed at the island.

However, a short time later Mr Morrison put out a written statement to say no staff were removed to HMAS Choules.

Mr Morrison had said all necessary steps were taken to ensure Australian staff were safe.

A spokesman told AM this morning that no staff were evacuated from the centre.

The Minister has refused to provide any further details about the incident, only that it is a matter "for the Papua New Guinean government" to address.

Mr Marles has told the ABC's AM program that the Government's explanation is insufficient.

He accused the government of using the military's oversight of its border protection strategy as an excuse to hide information.

"The government should not be hiding behind the military in order to reveal what's going on," he said.

"My concern is that the way in which this is being managed is being managed in such a way as not to give the Australian public all the details, and I think what we're seeing with this incident at Manus is another example."

While criticising the new Government's "management of information", Mr Marles said it was a separate question from the former Labor government's decision to establish facilities on Manus and Nauru.

"The fact that we have military oversight that is being used in such a way as to not see full disclosure and the Government hiding behind questions of operational circumstances is a concern," he said.

"What we need to see is transparency from this government about what is happening at the facility in Manus and Nauru.